Content reproducing apparatus

Abstract

A content reproducing apparatus comprises a server monitoring means for monitoring the connection status of a server existing on a network; a content information acquiring means for acquiring information of the contents on public view at the server; and a content reproducing means for reproducing the contents on public view at the server. When detecting a server connected to a network, the content reproducing apparatus acquires information of the contents on public view at the server, and automatically reproduces the contents on public view at the server based on the acquired information of the contents. The content reproducing apparatus is provided which can reproduce the contents on public view at DMSes on a network without requiring any troublesome operations.

1 . A content reproducing apparatus, comprising:
 a server monitoring unit adapted to monitor a connection status of a server existing on a network;   a content information acquiring unit adapted to acquire information of contents on public view at said server; and   a content reproducing unit adapted to reproduce the contents on public view at said server,   wherein when a server connected to a network is detected by said server monitoring unit,   said content information acquiring unit operates to acquire information of the contents on public view at the server, and   said content reproducing unit operates to reproduce the contents on public view at said server based on the information of the contents acquired by said content information acquiring unit.   
   
   
       2 . The content reproducing apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a content managing unit adapted to manage a reproduction order of a plurality of contents on public view at said server based on the information of the contents acquired by said content information acquiring unit,   wherein when a server connected to a network is detected by said server monitoring unit,   said content information acquiring unit operates to acquire information of contents on public view at the server,   said content managing unit operates to sort a reproduction order of the contents according to a predetermined condition, and   said content reproducing unit operates to reproduce said contents according to the reproduction order sorted by said content information managing unit.   
   
   
       3 . The content reproducing apparatus according to  claim 2 ,
 wherein when a plurality of servers are detected by said server monitoring unit,   said content managing unit operates to sort a reproduction order of the contents at a time point when content information has been acquired from all servers by said content information acquiring unit, and   while said content reproducing unit operates to reproduce the contents on public view at the server at a time point when content information has been acquired from a first server by said content information acquiring unit, said content reproducing unit operates to reproduce said contents according to the reproduction order sorted by said content managing unit after the content information is acquired from all the servers by said content information acquiring unit.   
   
   
       4 . The content reproducing apparatus according to  claim 2 ,
 wherein when disconnection of the server connected to the network is detected by said server monitoring unit,   said content managing unit operates to delete the information of the contents on public view at the server, and re-sort a reproduction order with respect to remaining contents.   
   
   
       5 . The content reproducing apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein when a power is turned on, said server monitoring unit operates to start to monitor a connection status of the server existing on the network.   
   
   
       6 . The content reproducing apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein said content reproducing unit is configured to be able to reproduce music contents, and   said content information acquiring unit operates to acquire only information of music contents on public view at said server.   
   
   
       7 . The content reproducing apparatus according to  claim 6 , which is configured not to include a display unit for displaying the information of the contents acquired by said content information acquiring unit. 
   
   
       8 . The content reproducing apparatus according to  claim 7 , further comprising an alert unit notifying with voice that the server connected to the network is not detected by said server monitoring unit, or that the server connected to the network does not have music contents on public view, when the server connected to the network is not detected by said server monitoring unit, or when the server connected to the network does not have music contents on public view. 
   
   
       9 . The content reproducing apparatus according to  claim 3 ,
 wherein when disconnection of the server connected to the network is detected by said server monitoring unit,   said content managing unit operates to delete the information of the contents on public view at the server, and re-sort a reproduction order with respect to remaining contents.   
   
   
       10 . The content reproducing apparatus according to  claim 2 ,
 wherein when a power is turned on, said server monitoring unit operates to start to monitor a connection status of the server existing on the network.   
   
   
       11 . The content reproducing apparatus according to  claim 3 ,
 wherein when a power is turned on, said server monitoring unit operates to start to monitor a connection status of the server existing on the network.   
   
   
       12 . The content reproducing apparatus according to  claim 2 ,
 wherein said content reproducing unit is configured to be able to reproduce music contents, and   said content information acquiring unit operates to acquire only information of music contents on public view at said server.   
   
   
       13 . The content reproducing apparatus according to  claim 3 ,
 wherein said content reproducing unit is configured to be able to reproduce music contents, and   said content information acquiring unit operates to acquire only information of music contents on public view at said server.